HackMan3D-Orbit-Controller

The Hackman3D Orbit Controller is an open source, do it yourself hardware project for building your own 3D navigation controller, the kind used to rotate and pan around models in CAD and 3D design software. This repository holds everything a maker needs: the firmware that runs on the controller, a full bill of materials, wiring diagrams, board files, and step by step documentation.

The controller is built around an Arduino Pro Micro and uses Hall Effect joysticks to track six degrees of freedom, meaning it can sense movement and rotation along multiple axes at once. Builders 3D print the housing themselves, using STL files hosted on Creality Cloud and MakerWorld, then wire up the joysticks and mechanical switches according to the included diagrams before uploading the firmware to the Arduino board.

Once assembled and connected over USB-C, the controller works with software that supports 3Dconnexion style navigation devices, including Fusion 360, Blender, SolidWorks, FreeCAD, Onshape, and several 3D printing slicers. For programs without native support, the firmware includes a mouse emulation mode that translates controller input into mouse drags, scroll wheel zoom, and configurable keyboard shortcuts, with a button combination to switch between the two modes and adjust speed profiles.

The project is aimed at makers and hobbyists comfortable with 3D printing, basic electronics assembly, and flashing firmware onto an Arduino board, rather than complete beginners. The firmware is licensed under GPL-3.0, while the 3D printable files may carry a separate license found in the STL repository. The author describes this as their first major open hardware project, built and refined over several months of daily personal use, and the documentation is still being expanded based on community feedback. It is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by 3Dconnexion.